Folding chair



Aug. 18,, 1953 M. D. RECHLER FOLDING CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1948 Aug. 18, 1953 M. D. RECHLER 3 FOLDING CHAIR Filed Nov. 2, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TORNEY FOLDING CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 2, 1948 TORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES FOLDING CHAIR Morton D. Rechler, New York, N. Y., assignor to B/exart Metal Industries, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 2, 1948, Serial No. 57,881

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to folding chairs, the object being to provide a chair of this character which is compactly foldable to occupy very small space for storing, carrying and shipping.

One of the important features of the chair is its freedom from complexities, involving the use of a few simple parts enabling the chair to be produced with a minimum of machining operations.

Another feature is the provision of a novel adjustable stop mechanism in association with the folding frame, whereby the chair is easily changed from a sitting position to a reclining angle by a simple one motion movement of the back frame.

As a further departure from prior constructions, the chair has a pair of armrests connected at their forward ends by pivots directly to the structure of the folding frame, eliminating the overthrow linkage heretofore required to enable the back frame to be adjusted to its two positions of use.

In the present example of the invention the framework of the chair is produced from four interconnected U-shaped frame sections and pivotal fittings of light metal such as aluminum. A padded seat cushion and a padded back cushion are formed by two continuous pieces of fabric extending downward from the top of the back frame and then forward to the front of the seat frame with the padding material sandwiched between the two layers. A cross rod of the framework extends through a loop formed in the fabric adjacent the bottom of the back cushion to provide anchorage, and the two cushions are brought closely together in front of the loop. The chair is designed to simulate as near as possible the appearance of an upholstered living room chair and can be produced in the width of a settee, with the advantage that in either case this new type of furniture is foldable.

Various other features of advantage will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings which illustrate one of the practical applications of the invention: 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the framework of the chair shown extended in sitting position and without cushions;

Fig. 2 is a view of a slidable link and stop mechanism with associated framework partly broken away in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail of a bracket and pivoted frame connections at the front of an armrest;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the chair framework showing two positions thereof as controlled by the stop mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the framework and its cushions in folded condition;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the link and frame parts on the line ,6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 shows in perspective further details of the link;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the cushions with respect to seat and back frames;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line Ifil ii of Fig. 9.

In the drawings the framework of the chair comprises four frame sections of U-shaped formation which have been bent to shape from light metal tubular stock such as aluminum or other suitable material. These sections are designated seat frame Ill, back frame ll, rear leg frame I2, and front leg frame IS.

The seat frame Ill includes a pair of parallel side members Ida, a cross bar lllb and end N30. The back frame II has a pair of upwardly extending side members Ila, a cross bar Ill) and ends I la. The rear leg frame includes side rails l2a, cross bar 121) and end I20. In a similar manner the front leg frame i3 is characterized by parallel side members I311, cross bar I31] and ends l3c. Links l4 and i5 are slidable on the side rails lza and have the upper wings IE to which the ends lie of back frame ll are connected by pivot pins ll or other pivotal means of connection. The links I4 and [5 are also provided with lower wings I8 to which the ends we of seat frame ill are pivoted by fastening means I9. The ends [20 of side rails lZa are suitably pivoted at 26 to brackets 2| which are secured to the under sides of the front portions 22 of arm rests 23 by fasteners 24. The rear portions 25 of arm rests 23 are secured by pivot elements 26 to the rising side members Ila of the back frame.

Front leg frame !3 has its upper ends I30 pivoted to the brackets 2| by fasteners 21. The side members ma of seat frame l0 have forward portions pivotally connected at 28 to the side members lSa of the front leg frame IS, the parts being designed and arranged to place the cross bar liib at a considerably extended position outwardly from the front of the chair beyond the pivots 28.

The slidable links It and I5 may be constructed as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and '7 wherein two sheet metal pieces 29 and 30 are bent to shape and formed with the upper and lower wings l6 and I8, the pieces being secured together in any suitable way, preferably by spot welding as at 3|. The metal is further shaped at 32 and 33 to provide a rounded guide G having proper clearance for easy sliding movement along the side rails I2a While supporting the frame sections I and II.

The two positions of the chair are controlled by a releasable stop 34 and a fixed stop 35. The releasable stop 34 may comprise a push button 36 projecting through an opening 31 in the side rail In and having a flange 38 backed by a spring 39 contained within a recess 40 of a plug 4| fixed within the rail In as by punching the metal at 42. Fixed stop 35 may be a bolt, pin or other appropriate form of abutment. The operation of these stops will be explained later in the description.

In order that the chair may simulate as near as possible, and may be used to replace the usual upholstered living room chair, it is provided with nicely designed cushions of proper thickness and proportions to carry out this desirable effect.

The disposition and construction of the cushions are shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, with enough of the framework to illustrate their application thereto while the other parts of the chair structure are eliminated for clarity of illustration. According to the construction shown, the cushions consist of two sheets of fabric 43 and 44 fastened together at the top of the back frame II by stitches l and extending downward along the back of the chair and then forwardly over the seat frame I0 to the front edge thereof where they overlie the cross bar I01) and are stitched together at 45. A loop 41 is formed in the rear sheet 44 by stitching at 48, and the sheets are sewed together at 49 and 50 forming the bottom of the back cushion and the rear closure of the seat cushion. The spaces between the two sheets are filled with padding material F to give them the substantial appearance of upholstered furniture and are fastened together at their side edges by stitches 55 and 56. The two interconnected cushions thus formed are anchored by the loop 41 to a cross rod 53 extending between the links Id and I5 and secured thereto by bolts or rivets 54 or by welding. The front end 5! of th seat cushion 5| and the top end 58 of the back cushion 52 overlie their respective cross bars I0b and Nb. A crosswise tape 59 stitched at 46 and SI to the seat cushion extends around the bar I0b and holds the end 51 of the cushion in place, While a similar tape 50 stitched at 45 and BI holds the top end of the back cushion anchored to the cross bar I II). The foregoing arrangement gives support at the front and top of the cushions in both the vertical and lateral directions, and is further reinforced by a strap 62 beneath the seat cushion and a strap 63 behind the back cushion.

In the normal sitting position of the chair the frame sections take the positions shown in full lines in .Fig. 4 wherein the push button 36 of the releasable stop 34 provides an abutment against the side edge 64 of the link I 4 so that the link is held at that point and cannot ride up any further along the side rail toward the front of the chair. To adjust the chair to the reclining position shown in dot-dash lines, the push button 36 is pushed down to permit the link I4 to slide thereover. The back frame and the seat frame are next moved in opposite directio s as indicated by the arrows A and B, causing the link I4 to slide forwardly along the side rail I2a until it reaches the fixed stop 35. During this movement the armrests 23 are automatically adjusted to their new positions by reason of their direct connections to the frame ends I20 and I30 through the medium of the brackets 2|. A reverse movement of the links I4 and I5 toward the back of the chair causes the frame sections and cushions to be folded to the compact condition shown in Fig. 5. e

I claim:

A two position folding chair comprising arm rests, a front leg frame and a rear leg frame pivoted at their upper ends to the front por tions of said armrests, said rear leg frame including side rails, links slidably mounted on said side rails, a seat frame provided with rearwardly extending ends pivoted to said links, a back frame pivoted at its lower ends to said links, pivotal connections between said seat frame and said front leg frame, pivotal connections between said back frame and the rear portions of said armrests, a spring pressed element carried by I one or said side rails and constituting an abutment against the associated link when the back frame is in one of its positions of use, said element being depressible to allow the link to slide thereover and into engagement with a second abutment carried by the rail, said seat frame, back frame, front leg frame, rear leg frame and armrests moving in unison to their new positions when said links slide on the side rails toward their different positions, said chair being brought to folded condition by moving said links rearwardly along said rails away from the abutments.

MORTON D. RECHLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 389,335 Spear Sept, 11, 1888 664,678 Quinn Dec. 25, 1900 904,319 Duncan Nov. 17, 1908 1,911,127 Wasserberg May 23, 1933 1,980,615 Emerson Nov. 13, 1934 1,985,823 Freedman Dec. 25, 1934 2,040,942 Katenkarnp May 19, 1936 2,047,178 De Coninck July 14, 1936 2,333,761 Beeskow Nov. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 410,123 Germany Feb. 23, 1925 

